Conceal

19. Lost

Jooheon pressed harder on the accelerator, only vaguely aware that he was closing on to the speed limit. The cars, signs, and lights blurred past him as he sped on the roads, going to...well, he hadn't figured that out yet. Even though he was already going the fastest he had ever tried with a car, Jooheon still didn't think it was fast enough. Everything surrounding him was all thrown behind the car, forgotten and useless. Everything, except for the buzzing thoughts in his head. Like parasites, they hung onto the walls of his head and refused to let go. They clung onto Jooheon and stayed in their place, no matter how fast Jooheon was going.

The red traffic light in front of him registered a little too late. Jooheon slammed his feet onto the brake and the tyres made an agonising screech, startling the few pedestrians crossing the street.

Jooheon was finally shocked awake. The loud noise temporarily scared away the unnerving thoughts in his head, and gave him just enough time to think rationally.

The first thing that came to mind was a single realisation that sent chills up his spine. The fact that The Flaming Tongues was going to ruin his life - simply for failing a mission - had always stayed with him, but only now did it occur to him that the scariest thing wasn't what the gang leader was going to do to him and the people around him. The scariest thing was knowing that someone was going to hurt the people important to him, and not being able to do anything to stop it.

After letting it settle, Jooheon immediately thought of his next move. A few came to mind, but one topped in priority.

Once the traffic light turned green, Jooheon stopped his car in a roadside parking spot, making sure he wasn't blocking the road this time.

Jooheon took out his phone and called the only person that would understand the situation and provide reassurance by discussing the problem together.

"Come on, please pick up. Please, Minhyuk." Jooheon muttered.

He pressed the phone to his ear, closed his eyes, and prayed that the other would answer. Each ring that came from the phone took a little bit of breath out of Jooheon. Soon he was squeezing tears out of his eyes and his free hand was rolled into a fist, palm aching because of his nails digging into his flesh.

After 5 more excruciating rings, the robotic female voice drilled into Jooheon's ears, reminding him just how lonely he is to call someone who didn't pick up.

"We're sorry; you have reached a number that has been disconnected or is no longer in service. If you feel you have reached this recording in error, please check the number..."

Jooheon wanted to throw his phone far away, somewhere he couldn't see, so he would never have to be reminded of the dreadful feeling that was gnawing at his heart. He felt his heart going empty as his mind started filling up. He knew Minhyuk was just trying to lessen the burden by running away, but what if something happened when he was alone, outside in who-knows-where? What if he couldn't answer because something happened? What if the gang found him and-

Jooheon shook his head. Hard. He couldn't think like that. He couldn't let himself think like that. Not now. Things were going out of hand, and there was no way he could stay quiet and watch this unfold in front of him. He had things to do, and he had no time to lose.

He looked at his watch. 10:14pm. It was a bit early for what he was about to do, but he couldn't afford to wait any longer. He had hoped to get some reassurance and ideas of a better plan from Minhyuk before doing this, but since Minhyuk wasn't...available, Jooheon had no choice but to do it with neither of those. Just thinking about it made him shiver in fear, but as a human being with a heart, he couldn't imagine what would happen if he didn't.